Which way to Walton’s Mountain? July 9, 2008 ~ 8:39 pm
Posted by Julie in : Craftiness Is Next To Godliness , trackbackBoston stories in the next post, promise. Really. But now, for something entirely different. We all know I am a joiner. I joined Plurk, I joined Twitter, I joined Facebook, Ravelry, MySpace, you name it, I’m on it. But for as much as I like the tech, I also love being connected to the “old ways” of doing things. I like to spin, knit, cross-stitch, etc. ad nauseum, knowing that these crafts have been practiced by generations of people before me. I like to see my part in the chain of humanity - I suppose that’s why I was a history major in undergrad. I would like to learn how to cook, how to really cook, instead of just the meat/veg/starch combinations I throw together. I like to make things grow. I’m really interested in becoming greener and helping the planet to recover for the next links in the chain. And I love sharing these interests with others (which is why I’m in a Stitch n Bitch, among other things). Yes, I am a 21st Century Laura Ingalls Wilder living in Brooklyn. I was just in need of a Walnut Grove (perhaps without that bitchy Nellie Olson, though).
You all know where this is headed. I joined something else. Miss Violet, from the Lime & Violet podcast, started a Farmgirl chapter on Plurk. Go ahead, read it, I’ll wait. Basically, a Farmgirl “A farmgirl believes in the strong arms of friendship, community and the just plain fun of being together. A farmgirl takes joy in the quiet satisfaction of making things with her own hands. She exudes kindness, grace, humility, gentleness, patience and generosity, and loves the simple pleasures in life. A farmgirl is loyal and caring, especially when it comes to her family, friends and community. She gives generously of her time and talents. Farmgirls love to get together to share their ideas. She can be with or without fields and stock. Farmgirl is a condition of the heart.” While I haven’t decided if I’m going to pay the $20 and join the Farmgirl sisterhood, I have joined the Plurkette Henhouse, which is a virtual Farmgirl chapter. We are a community of mostly fiber-minded people who met on Plurk, and since I spend much time each day conversing with these people online, it wasn’t much of a stretch to join them in something else.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this can lead me. And you know I like the idea of merit badges. It’s just a good match.
Comments
I like the idea of merit badges too. I haven’t decided if I am going to join the sisterhood either.
Round here, a Farmgirl is just a girl raised on a farm… But then, I’m from the country.
Farmgirl = humility, gentleness, patience
You sure you should be in this group?
Somehow, I just can’t see you in a countrified dress and a big hat. But then again you are a bit of the rebel, ain’t you?
Vince~I bought a straw (well, paper) fedora last week in Boston. Does that count? And I can be very patient. With crafts. And gentle. With crafts. And…oh, who the hell am I kidding, I do not embody humility in the least, even with crafts.
Jamie~I grew up near farms, but was never a farmgirl.
Kidyquat~I have two Interweave mags up for renewal subscriptions. I think I won’t be an official farmgirl any time soon.
I could see you in a straw hat! And a punk rock T-shirt!
Paper fedora is close enough!
So–do y’all need a soapmaker? This isn’t the first time I’ve realized that I spend all this time and money online learning the art, exchanging tips and tricks, ordering materials, just so I can make soap the way they did back in pioneer days.
Well, sort of the way–not counting the manufactured pure lye, oils that Grandma couldn’t have gotten unless she lived in Hawaii, essential and fragrance oils to make the soap smell like nearly anything I want it to, digital scales and calculators that tell how much of everything to use to get yummy soap.
As long as you are not dressing like one of those cult/religion/polygamists. No one looks good in Little house on the prarie clothing.